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Summary
It is no small exploit for a long - running TV show to cleave to its original premisefor its entire time on the air . TV show often abandon their principal premisewhen the show goes on for too long and the writers start to run out of estimate . sealed literary genre , such as the sitcom or procedural , are more formulaic and let the show to remain the same throughout . However , other long - running series are based on such an expansive or vaguely defined idea that they can carry on for years without ever technically give up what they were in the beginning advertised as .
It is difficult to maintain a show ’s original premise when actors leave the show , forcing the writer to reconfigure the patch without a central figure . Additionally , the show itself might but outlive the story , carry on for much farseeing than it should when everything that initially made it a success is long go . However , some writers still successfully contrive their stories so that they will engage consultation for many years .
8Seinfeld (1989-1998)
Seinfeld was always about showing the cast being terrible people.
Cast
Seinfeld stars Jerry Seinfeld as a stand - up comedian whose life in New York City is made even more chaotic by his quirky group of friends who join him in wrestling with life story ’s most puzzling yet often trivial questions . Often described as " a show about nothing , " Seinfeld mines the sense of humour in biography ’s everyday state of affairs like hold off in contrast , searching for a lost detail , or the trials and tribulations of dating . Co - starring is Julia Louis - Dreyfus as Jerry ’s ex - lady friend and current platonic brother , Elaine Benes ; Jason Alexander as George Costanza , Jerry ’s neurotic hard - luck undecomposed admirer ; and Michael Richards as Jerry ’s eccentric neighbour , Kramer .
For its entire ravel , the genre - shaping sitcomSeinfeldfollows the same four people generally being atrocious . sitcom can mostly continue using their original premise if it is simply about describe the day - to - day joke of the same tight - rumple radical . These characters might inscribe new relationships or vary their vocation , but it is always about them . Seinfeldremains the same throughout the serial , and it is only the finale that disrupts the status quo . The mainSeinfeldcharacters going to jailchallenges the long - standing normal of them doing bad things without effect .
Keeping America ’s attention for eld on remainder is no small feat , but the longest - running sitcoms of all time pulled it off for a tenner or more .

7American Horror Story (2011-Present)
AHS is still telling original horror stories.
American Horror Story is a Horror Anthology serial publication created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk . The enfranchisement has seen star like Connie Britton , Jessica Lange , Denis O’Hare , Zachary Quinto , Evan Peters , and Dylan McDermott . Each season follows a new premise and spans an array of repulsion genres like witches , ghosts , serial killers , and more .
It is not unmortgaged if American Horror Story season 13 will be the end , but the premise could carry the show for many more years .
The anthology serial format ofAmerican Horror Storymakes it loose for the writer to stick to what they originally promised : a new horror story every time of year . American Horror Story time of year 13is currently in the works . Recurring actors like Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters as unlike characters throughout the serial also give the show a gumption of persistence . AHSalso often bases the plot of any give season around a certain horror trope . It is not clear ifAmerican Horror Storyseason 13 will be the end , but the premiss could carry the show for many more yr .

6Friends (1994-2004)
Friends showed the lives of the group of six for ten years.
Friends is the popular sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman , liberate back in 1994 and ran for ten seasons . The show follows a group of six twentysomethings through their lifespan in New York City and their time spend between their two apartment and their local coffee shop . The show feature the group navigate tricky relationships with one another and comical mishap .
Friendsis pitched as being about the professional and personal living of a group of 20 - something - year - olds . This never changes , although they do all finally reach their XXX . Friendsalso establishes another through line in the first episode : The on - and - off romanticism ofRoss and Rachel . While this storyline is not mentioned in the premise , it is a constant throughout the series . Fans easily enjoy this regular personal and professional dramatic event — accompanied byChandler ’s awing one - ocean liner , Phoebe ’s quirky medicine , and Joey ’s goofiness — for 10 year .
5Criminal Minds (2005-Present)
Criminal Minds is an investigation procedural that stands out.
Criminal Minds follow an elect squad of FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit as they analyze the country ’s most complex reprehensible mind , led by experienced agentive role David Rossi . The team works to anticipate and prevent offence by understanding the behavior of these dangerous individuals .
Criminal Mindsis an impactful and disturbing FBI adjective . So long as the writer can keep coming up with new Orcinus orca for the team to overtake , they will still have a show . The chief squad switch over the old age , but several characters are still regard as icons of the serial publication . Penelope Garcia is the reference who appears in more episode than anyone elseand is require to return forCriminal Mindsseason 17 ( orCriminal mind : Evolutionseason 2).Criminal Mindshas not had the same success asCSIwith its spinoffs , but the original show is still win renewal .
4Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
Game of Thrones' broad premise never changed.
Based on George R. R. Martin ’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series , Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama place in the fictitious continent of Westeros and Essos . It keep an eye on baronial menage like the Starks , Lannisters , and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising menace from the undead loom in the North . The serial received significant critical success and amassed a loyal rooter cornerstone due to its high production values , sprawling set , iconic characters , and shocking twists .
In most outline , Game of Thronesis described as about the fictional baronial menage of Westeros fighting to claim the land ’s pot . This never changes , even as the show ’s main cast does . Everything that happens , includingGame of Thrones’criticized close , is du to the characters ' effort to arrogate the Iron Throne .
The other half of the show ’s premise is the close at hand scourge of the White Walkers . Because it takes so long for the White Walkers to hit the Wall , this plotline also remains intact . The writers only take to throw in one fit with them every time of year to remind people it is still a chief storyline .

3How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
How I Met Your Mother was always leading up to Ted meeting the mother.
How I Met Your Mother is a TV series that follows a father telling his children about his yesteryear . let go of in 2005 , it explores his experience and adventures with four close friend , leading up to meeting their mother , as depict through a serial of flashbacks .
Throughout the series , the assumption is moderately stable . Ted tells his minor about the escapade of the week , assuring them that it will finally end with him conform to their mother — which it does .
The premise ofHow I Met Your Motheris exactly what it sound like … or so everyone think . Like most sitcoms , it focuses on a small group of character reference . The show does , technically , fulfill its promise of contribute up to Ted finishing tell his nipper the story of how he met their mother .

Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
Theproblem with theHow I Met Your Motherfinaleis that it reveals a concealed storey beneath this , of Ted actually strain to find out if his kids would be okay with him dating Robin . Throughout the serial publication , the premiss is fair static . Ted severalize his small fry about the adventure of the week , assuring them that it will eventually end with him see their mother — which it does .
2Law & Order (1990-Present)
Law & Order’s procedural format means the premise never has to change.
Law & Order , of line , has been the same show for more than 20 year , spawning multiple spinoffs that also depict the many cases of various legal philosophy enforcer and attorney . EvenLaw & Order : Special Victims Unithas now been running for an impressive 25 years . The overall enfranchisement consist hundreds of suit and many performances from actors who have gone on to become massive Hollywood virtuoso . The iconic formula will always work , so long as there are more substantial - life sentence cases to inspire new episode .
The tenacious operative boob tube show ever have been on the melodic phrase for decennary , with many that bulge before color picture or cable still making new episodes .
1House (2004-2012)
House’s premise stays the same because it centers on one person.
House is a aesculapian whodunit drama in which the scoundrel is typically a difficult - to - diagnose medical malady . It postdate Dr. Gregory House ( Hugh Laurie ) , a world - renowned disabled pathologist with a notorious subject matter abuse offspring . With his team of creation - class doctors , House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the domain - an especially telling exploit when fill into account statement that he seldom in reality sees his patient role .
Theoretically , most medical procedurals would remain the same no matter how long they are on the breeze . However , Grey ’s Anatomywas advertised as being about a mathematical group of medical interns , which is intelligibly not the case any longer . Houseallows itself to be more consistentbecause its assumption center on one person .
Dr. Gregory House ’s own life history comprises plots that would allegedly scuff the show away from its procedural format . However , House diagnoses people all the time , even when he is in prison . Basing a story around one central character is one of the most effective fashion to have a long - running series with the same premise all the way through .

Seinfeld stars Jerry Seinfeld as a stand-up comedian whose life in New York City is made even more chaotic by his quirky group of friends who join him in wrestling with life’s most perplexing yet often trivial questions. Often described as “a show about nothing,” Seinfeld mines the humor in life’s mundane situations like waiting in line, searching for a lost item, or the trials and tribulations of dating. Co-starring is Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Jerry’s ex-girlfriend and current platonic pal, Elaine Benes; Jason Alexander as George Costanza, Jerry’s neurotic hard-luck best friend; and Michael Richards as Jerry’s eccentric neighbor, Kramer.

Seinfeld stars Jerry Seinfeld as a stand-up comedian whose life in New York City is made even more chaotic by his quirky group of friends who join him in wrestling with life’s most perplexing yet often trivial questions. Often described as “a show about nothing,” Seinfeld mines the humor in life’s mundane situations like waiting in line, searching for a lost item, or the trials and tribulations of dating. Co-starring is Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Jerry’s ex-girlfriend and current platonic pal, Elaine Benes; Jason Alexander as George Costanza, Jerry’s neurotic hard-luck best friend; and Michael Richards as Jerry’s eccentric neighbor, Kramer.





American Horror Story is a Horror Anthology series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The franchise has seen stars like Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Denis O’Hare, Zachary Quinto, Evan Peters, and Dylan McDermott. Each season follows a new premise and spans an array of horror genres like witches, ghosts, serial killers, and more.




Friends is the popular sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, released back in 1994 and ran for ten seasons. The show follows a group of six twentysomethings through their lives in New York City and their time spent between their two apartments and their local coffee shop. The show features the group navigating tricky relationships with one another and comical misadventures.




Criminal Minds follows an elite team of FBI profilers from the Behavioral Analysis Unit as they analyze the nation’s most complex criminal minds, led by experienced agent David Rossi. The team works to anticipate and prevent crimes by understanding the behavior of these dangerous individuals.



Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.





How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.






House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into account that he rarely actually sees his patients.

